1) Say "get off my property"2) Call police to file complaint, use 911 line if the person won't leave3) Call police again if the person shows back up 3a) tell police he's threatening you with a gun and your scared for your life 3b) Use your gun if he tries to come into your house

One of the new guys on my team used to work at a rent to own place. He pretty much told the guys to never use them. Hell I knew that before he even told us. We have one coworker we nicknamed drama that is so far in the hole with some rent to own place she may never see the light of day.

I am almost less a fan of people who rent things to steal them as I am of people trying to force their way into people's homes without a warrant.

A simple solution would be to have a device that could brick the TV from the street. Or better yet, a small RFID tracking device that announces the item's presence to a reasonable radius, so nobody would have to go into the house. Either hide the device, or write it into the contract that if the device is removed from the rental item, the lessee is responsible for the replacement cost of the rental item.

redmid17:1) Say "get off my property"2) Call police to file complaint, use 911 line if the person won't leave3) Call police again if the person shows back up 3a) tell police he's threatening you with a gun and your scared for your life 3b) Use your gun if he tries to come into your house

3a) Don't say "gun" unless there is a gun or he has implied he has a gun. It's Ok to say you feel threatend. Just don't make stuff up.3b) Unless you live in Floriduh, avoid using you gun. Shooting someone in your home, even if legaly justified will cause you long term inconvience.

Back in the 90's I had an incident with Rent a Center. I had rented a house with two other guys and one day after about a month living there I come home one Saturday and the front door was all messed up. My roommates said that 3 guys saying they were from Rent a Center showed up looking for some lady, and when they told them that she didn't live there an argument broke out. That escalated to them demanding to be let into the house, and eventually to the 3 of them trying to push past my one roommate to get in. My other roommate grabbed a baseball bat and took a swing at the 3, but missed breaking the door frame. They said that made them back off and they guess somebody called the cops, because just then they showed up and made them leave.

ongbok:Back in the 90's I had an incident with Rent a Center. I had rented a house with two other guys and one day after about a month living there I come home one Saturday and the front door was all messed up. My roommates said that 3 guys saying they were from Rent a Center showed up looking for some lady, and when they told them that she didn't live there an argument broke out. That escalated to them demanding to be let into the house, and eventually to the 3 of them trying to push past my one roommate to get in. My other roommate grabbed a baseball bat and took a swing at the 3, but missed breaking the door frame. They said that made them back off and they guess somebody called the cops, because just then they showed up and made them leave.

This "Tough Guy" collection approach doesn't make any sense to me. It's only going to eventually get them sued for FAR more than the crap they're out.

Why risk a (probably) VERY profitable business model screwing over poor people by doing this? They should just keep to the proper ways:

1. Letters/Phone calls.2. A couple of POLITE visits-- maybe with a second guy carrying a video camera to document that they're being nonthreatening3. Either go to court or sell the account to a debt collector and claim the loss on your taxes.

=======================================

My guess is when there's a loss, the franchise owner gets a stick up his/her ass that they've been "stolen" from and that they have some kind of right to threaten to break some kneecaps to get "their" stuff back, while in the meantime forgetting their WHOLE FREAKING BUSINESS MODEL is morally no better than theft from the poor and stupid.

These franchise owners just need to chill out, count their money, snort some coke off a hooker's ass, and generally enjoy the rest of their lives until they eventually die and get reincarnated as a dung beetle with MS. Or something worse.

The Pope of Manwich Village:Lipspinach: The Pope of Manwich Village: I like to rent electronics, then pawn them for cash, then buy bitcoins and then buy BMTs from Subway. Makes the subs taste better for some reason.

I guess they mean threatening to get them arrested, which is something that wouldn't happen in this situation since it is a civil matter. The legal path for the stores would be to sue them, not get them arrested.

If you own money to a rent-to-own business pay them and or give the furniture back. That being said a friend was dealing with a electronics dealer here in Houston after he lost his job. He had only enough to pay his rent, utilities and food. This companies collections dept. were threatening to have him arrested and then they posed as deputies over the phone saying a warrant was issued. Crazy stuff.

Know your rights. Acknowledge that money is owed and to please mail me all the paperwork and then write them to "NEVER" contact you again. That is your right under the 'Fair Debt Collection Practices Act '

Failure to cease communication upon request: communicating with consumers in any way (other than litigation) after receiving written notice that said consumer wishes no further communication or refuses to pay the alleged debt, with certain exceptions, including advising that collection efforts are being terminated or that the collector intends to file a lawsuit or pursue other remedies where permitted[9]

They cannot threaten that you will be arrested or prosecuted for a breach of contract. That IS a strong arm tactic. They have no legal recourse to have you arrested, especially if you are not their customer, AFAIK.

AugieDoggyDaddy:redmid17: 1) Say "get off my property"2) Call police to file complaint, use 911 line if the person won't leave3) Call police again if the person shows back up 3a) tell police he's threatening you with a gun and your scared for your life 3b) Use your gun if he tries to come into your house

3a) Don't say "gun" unless there is a gun or he has implied he has a gun. It's Ok to say you feel threatend. Just don't make stuff up.3b) Unless you live in Floriduh, avoid using you gun. Shooting someone in your home, even if legaly justified will cause you long term inconvience.

The guy in the story did say he was going to come back with his 9mm, so that's what I was responding to.If someone actually tries to come into your house ( ie force their way in), I'm not sure there's a state in the union that doesn't allow you to use force to put them down. Forced entry into a house is generally a forcible felony. IANAL but most states and self-defense laws allow you to use lethal force to prevent a forcible felony.

This "Tough Guy" collection approach doesn't make any sense to me. It's only going to eventually get them sued for FAR more than the crap they're out.

Why risk a (probably) VERY profitable business model screwing over poor people by doing this? They should just keep to the proper ways:

1. Letters/Phone calls.2. A couple of POLITE visits-- maybe with a second guy carrying a video camera to document that they're being nonthreatening3. Either go to court or sell the account to a debt collector and claim the loss on your taxes.

=======================================

My guess is when there's a loss, the franchise owner gets a stick up his/her ass that they've been "stolen" from and that they have some kind of right to threaten to break some kneecaps to get "their" stuff back, while in the meantime forgetting their WHOLE FREAKING BUSINESS MODEL is morally no better than theft from the poor and stupid.

These franchise owners just need to chill out, count their money, snort some coke off a hooker's ass, and generally enjoy the rest of their lives until they eventually die and get reincarnated as a dung beetle with MS. Or something worse.

yeah they are predatory just like the payday loan and auto title places. there should be laws against such shenanigans but most of the lawmakers own or are investors in the same outfits.

TheShavingofOccam123:NW Freedom Corp. says that it conducted its own internal investigation and found its associates conducted business in a professional and ethical manner.

Since the SCOTUS ruled that corporations are people, can you get a restraining order against an entire corporation?

Don't be silly. Corporations have all of the RIGHTS of an individual, but without any of the pesky responsibilities. If a corporation kills one of your family members through willful negligence, well, too bad. You can't throw a corporation into prison, now can you? That's just ridiculous.

Besides, this is NW Freedom Corp. we're talking about here. They're clearly very patriotic, probably even heroic. They have FREEDOM right there in the name. That's how you can tell they're a good company. No company with the word "freedom" in their name has ever done anything bad. It's a proven fact.

This "Tough Guy" collection approach doesn't make any sense to me. It's only going to eventually get them sued for FAR more than the crap they're out.

Why risk a (probably) VERY profitable business model screwing over poor people by doing this? They should just keep to the proper ways:

1. Letters/Phone calls.2. A couple of POLITE visits-- maybe with a second guy carrying a video camera to document that they're being nonthreatening3. Either go to court or sell the account to a debt collector and claim the loss on your taxes.

=======================================

My guess is when there's a loss, the franchise owner gets a stick up his/her ass that they've been "stolen" from and that they have some kind of right to threaten to break some kneecaps to get "their" stuff back, while in the meantime forgetting their WHOLE FREAKING BUSINESS MODEL is morally no better than theft from the poor and stupid.

These franchise owners just need to chill out, count their money, snort some coke off a hooker's ass, and generally enjoy the rest of their lives until they eventually die and get reincarnated as a dung beetle with MS. Or something worse.

They don't go to court because most of the time it will be ruled in the renter's favor. Once you have paid enough money to have bought the item the court will just let them keep it. So rent-a-centers don't want to go to court, ever.

Once someone has an item long enough, they'll think it's stupid to get rid of it, since they've paid so much to keep it. And this is how your 300$ item new ends up costing a renter 600$ or 900$ over long enough time.

So once someone stops paying, they strong arm, otherwise word gets around and people just hang onto their stuff.

Riche:This "Tough Guy" collection approach doesn't make any sense to me. It's only going to eventually get them sued for FAR more than the crap they're out.

Why risk a (probably) VERY profitable business model screwing over poor people by doing this? They should just keep to the proper ways:

1. Letters/Phone calls.2. A couple of POLITE visits-- maybe with a second guy carrying a video camera to document that they're being nonthreatening3. Either go to court or sell the account to a debt collector and claim the loss on your taxes.

=======================================

My guess is when there's a loss, the franchise owner gets a stick up his/her ass that they've been "stolen" from and that they have some kind of right to threaten to break some kneecaps to get "their" stuff back, while in the meantime forgetting their WHOLE FREAKING BUSINESS MODEL is morally no better than theft from the poor and stupid.

These franchise owners just need to chill out, count their money, snort some coke off a hooker's ass, and generally enjoy the rest of their lives until they eventually die and get reincarnated as a dung beetle with MS. Or something worse.

I think you're out of touch with the ghetto.

1 - Poor people are so used to bill collectors that they don't react to phone calls and letters unless they have a windfall. Literally, you have to shut the lights out or evict them. Without the knowledge that things can go that far, you are powerless.

2 - This is reasonable, but I'm pretty sure unconsented video taping opens another legal can of worms. Maybe not.

3 - If rental places lawyered up that all of the money goes to the lawyer. It's just not really cost effective. Selling to a collections agency would mitigate some losses but if word got out that you never came and collected your stuff you'd get ransacked by word of mouth advertising that they can just screw you over. What do you think they're worried about? Their credit score? They're renting basic household items, they're beyond that.

If you want effective collection, you need police involvement (same as the sheriff evicting someone). You don't have to call every time you visit, but it needs to escalate to that level at some point. You need to be able to TAKE THE OBJECTS BACK and there needs to be a system in place to do that that people are aware of.

The Pope of Manwich Village:Lipspinach: The Pope of Manwich Village: I like to rent electronics, then pawn them for cash, then buy bitcoins and then buy BMTs from Subway. Makes the subs taste better for some reason.

Lipspinach:The Pope of Manwich Village: Lipspinach: The Pope of Manwich Village: I like to rent electronics, then pawn them for cash, then buy bitcoins and then buy BMTs from Subway. Makes the subs taste better for some reason.

Finally, last February, NW Freedom Corp., the company that runs the local Aaron's stores, signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance without admitting any guilt. In it, the company agreed not to use 32 different strong-arm tactics to recover property or debt, including:Entering a home without permissionUsing abusive languagePosing as a police officerThreatening arrest or criminal prosecution.

HOLY shiat. They must have the DA in their pocket if they're "Agreeing" not to do things like "Enter a home without permission" and "Pose as a police officer" as some sort of settlement. Can I get away with that? "I'm not going to be criminally prosecuted, and in return I've agreed not to kill anyone."

mike_d85:Riche: This "Tough Guy" collection approach doesn't make any sense to me. It's only going to eventually get them sued for FAR more than the crap they're out.

Why risk a (probably) VERY profitable business model screwing over poor people by doing this? They should just keep to the proper ways:

1. Letters/Phone calls.2. A couple of POLITE visits-- maybe with a second guy carrying a video camera to document that they're being nonthreatening3. Either go to court or sell the account to a debt collector and claim the loss on your taxes.

=======================================

My guess is when there's a loss, the franchise owner gets a stick up his/her ass that they've been "stolen" from and that they have some kind of right to threaten to break some kneecaps to get "their" stuff back, while in the meantime forgetting their WHOLE FREAKING BUSINESS MODEL is morally no better than theft from the poor and stupid.

These franchise owners just need to chill out, count their money, snort some coke off a hooker's ass, and generally enjoy the rest of their lives until they eventually die and get reincarnated as a dung beetle with MS. Or something worse.

I think you're out of touch with the ghetto.

1 - Poor people are so used to bill collectors that they don't react to phone calls and letters unless they have a windfall. Literally, you have to shut the lights out or evict them. Without the knowledge that things can go that far, you are powerless.

2 - This is reasonable, but I'm pretty sure unconsented video taping opens another legal can of worms. Maybe not.

3 - If rental places lawyered up that all of the money goes to the lawyer. It's just not really cost effective. Selling to a collections agency would mitigate some losses but if word got out that you never came and collected your stuff you'd get ransacked by word of mouth advertising that they can just screw you over. What do you think they're worried about? Their credit score? They're renting basic household items, they're beyond that.

If you want effective collection, you need police involvement (same as the sheriff evicting someone). You don't have to call every time you visit, but it needs to escalate to that level at some point. You need to be able to TAKE THE OBJECTS BACK and there needs to be a system in place to do that that people are aware of.

Of course there is a legal means of getting the property back. It's called a court order.

Inflatable Rhetoric:The Pope of Manwich Village: Lipspinach: The Pope of Manwich Village: I like to rent electronics, then pawn them for cash, then buy bitcoins and then buy BMTs from Subway. Makes the subs taste better for some reason.

What does BMT stand for anyway? I could never figure it out.

"Byproducts, Mayonnaise and Tomato," I think. I like mine toasted.

Boston Mass Transit?

Better Make Time?

Be My .... ??

I asked that question to about 20 different Subway employees. Finally, I was told it stood for "Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit," after the NYC subway system.